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Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by cpwill

That. And their government is corrupt and ineffective. They also have an unfortunate history of abusing the populace they are supposed to defend, which comes with problematic Leahy-Amendment considerations for an FID mission.

But it's not exactly like Boko Haram is a bunch of SF guys running around.

Well, that's where the publicity of this story comes into play. They kind of don't have a choice but to try and do something now. Otherwise, it could be just like the story you were talking about before with the little boys who were murdered. I don't think anyone wants that.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I already told you, those boys are dead. These girls may still be alive.

So they don't matter.

"He who does not think himself worth saving from poverty and ignorance by his own efforts, will hardly be thought worth the efforts of anybody else." -- Frederick Douglass, Self-Made Men (1872)
"Fly-over" country voted, and The Donald is now POTUS.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by cpwill

It's hard to make it into a catchy hastag.

Yeah, that about sums it up.

"He who does not think himself worth saving from poverty and ignorance by his own efforts, will hardly be thought worth the efforts of anybody else." -- Frederick Douglass, Self-Made Men (1872)
"Fly-over" country voted, and The Donald is now POTUS.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Well, that's where the publicity of this story comes into play. They kind of don't have a choice but to try and do something now

They don't?

They probably perceive that it is in their best interest that others perceive that they are trying to do something. That in no way means that the Nigerian government is definitely going to take whatever steps are necessary to get those girls back. It doesn't mean that they won't, mind you, it just also doesn't mean that they will.

Maybe one of the most corrupt governments on the planet that has largely failed to respond to 3,000+ dead in the past year and a half or so will suddenly have a moment like the end of Mr Smith Goes To Washington where they have an attack of the conscience. it might happen.

Otherwise, it could be just like the story you were talking about before with the little boys who were murdered. I don't think anyone wants that.

The question is not "does anyone want it", it is "who is willing to take the action that would be required in order to stop it, or stop things like this from happening in the future. By and large at current the answer to that appears to be "no one". Because this isn't actually a campaign to win in Northern Nigeria. It's a campaign to win in social media.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by cpwill

They don't?

They probably perceive that it is in their best interest that others perceive that they are trying to do something. That in no way means that the Nigerian government is definitely going to take whatever steps are necessary to get those girls back. It doesn't mean that they won't, mind you, it just also doesn't mean that they will.

Maybe one of the most corrupt governments on the planet that has largely failed to respond to 3,000+ dead in the past year and a half or so will suddenly have a moment like the end of Mr Smith Goes To Washington where they have an attack of the conscience. it might happen.

The question is not "does anyone want it", it is "who is willing to take the action that would be required in order to stop it, or stop things like this from happening in the future. By and large at current the answer to that appears to be "no one". Because this isn't actually a campaign to win in Northern Nigeria. It's a campaign to win in social media.

I only have a few minutes to spare, but cpwill?! What better way is there to get support for a cause than social media? I would think that you would understand this is the way people gain support for a cause now.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by American

So they don't matter.

Nobody said they don't matter, but it's too late to help them now. OTOH, these little girls can still be saved. Why do people have to act as if this is some kind of competition or something? There are actually little girls lives on the line right now!

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I only have a few minutes to spare, but cpwill?! What better way is there to get support for a cause than social media? I would think that you would understand this is the way people gain support for a cause now.

1. I'm not going to down on the organizational power of social media as a medium. However
2. What I am saying is not that. I am saying that the intent of this campaign of ours is not actually to save those girls. It's to look like we want to save the girls, and are "doing something" about it. we aren't trying to win in Nigeria. We are trying to win on twitter.

Re: Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

Originally Posted by cpwill

1. I'm not going to down on the organizational power of social media as a medium. However
2. What I am saying is not that. I am saying that the intent of this campaign of ours is not actually to save those girls. It's to look like we want to save the girls, and are "doing something" about it. we aren't trying to win in Nigeria. We are trying to win on twitter.